What Exactly Is Factory Farming?

What’s your definition of factory farming? If you ask 10 people, you’ll likely get 10 different answers. 

I often hear questions and opinions about factory farming, and while the definitions vary, opinion leans heavily negative - that anything labeled as a factory farm is bad. I regularly hear that there are too many factory farms, that they’re all bad, and that we shouldn’t support them.

But here’s the problem: There is no universal definition. I believe in any discussion about farming practices, we need to consider the language we use. We need to use specific words and avoid arguing about vague concepts that not everyone defines in the same way. 

Is it about the size or ownership of farms?  The way animals are fed or cared for? How they are housed? Some or all of those things? 

I asked people to tell me their definition of a factory farm. Here are some of the answers I received.

Common Factory Farm Definitions

One of the most common definitions people share with me is a farm that prioritizes profit over the welfare of farm animals. 

The treatment of animals is often central to the public’s understanding of factory farming.  They mention these concerns most often:

• Animals being kept in confined spaces

• Animals housed indoors without access to sunlight

• Dirty, unsanitary conditions

• Animals that are not well cared for

• Too many animals

• No opportunity for natural behaviors

Farm ownership is also part of the public’s concern.  If a farm is owned by a corporation, it is likely to be considered a factory farm. But if a family farm operation decides to set itself up as a small corporation, does that make it a factory farm?

Farm size is another factor. Factory farms are considered to be large. On the other hand, a family farm is often described as a small operation with fewer animals and more attention given to welfare, even though family farms can be very large too.

Is small always better? Does it always mean better treatment of animals? In fact, the size of an operation tells you nothing about how the animals on that farm are treated.  Large farms can have healthy animals that are well cared for, while small farms can fail animal welfare checks. And of course, the reverse can be true.  Size really does not matter.

What about concentrated animal feeding operations? Is ownership or size important to how we view them?

What is a CAFO?

Many people define concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, as factory farming. The term CAFO does have a regulatory definition.  A CAFO can be a large, medium, or small operation, depending on the number of animals housed there. 

In the case of dairies, a large CAFO would house more than 700 dairy cows, while a small CAFO would have fewer than 200.  The numbers are different for other animals.

CAFOs are facilities where livestock is fed and cared for in a concentrated area, but it’s not just a euphemism for a factory farm. Rather, it’s a regulatory definition that sets out how the operation must act with respect to environmental considerations, such as manure disposal and water runoff.

What Is Industrial Agriculture?

Industrial agriculture and industrial farming are two more terms that are widely used but don’t really have a standard definition.  They are often used interchangeably with the term factory farming. 

Why Do Large-Scale Farms Exist?

As with most businesses, there are cost benefits as levels of production increase.

In dairy farming, for example, the cost to produce milk decreases with the number of cows in a herd. Lower costs mean better profit margins and can mean lower prices for consumers.

The USDA’s Economic Research Service says while herd size isn’t the only factor affecting costs, scale-related advantages for larger farms are significant. The research service findings are based on regular surveys of dairy operations.

The USDA also notes the long-term trend to larger dairy farms. In the past 20 years, the number of US dairy farms has fallen while milk production has risen. There are fewer farms, but they are larger.

Discussing Farming Issues

As you consider your opinions and discuss issues with others, I encourage you not to use the term factory farming since there are so many ideas on what that means. Rather, be specific about what type of farms you are talking about. 

If you are concerned about how animals are treated, why not visit farms in your area? Large or small, family or corporation, go see how the animals are cared for, and meet the people who care for them. 

Form your own opinions. Don’t just repeat scary words used by others or in the media.

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